Roasting Garlic Cloves In An Air Fryer: Easy And Delicious!

Roasted garlic is a great way to add extra flavour to your dishes. It is a common ingredient in many recipes, from roasted garlic tomato sauce to jalapeño cornbread waffles. Roasting garlic in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve the same results as oven-roasting, with half the time and effort.

Can You Roast Garlic Cloves in an Air Fryer?

How to roast garlic cloves in an air fryer

Roasted garlic is a great addition to many dishes, and an air fryer is a quick and easy way to roast garlic cloves. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to roast garlic cloves in an air fryer:

Ingredients:

• Garlic
• Olive oil (or avocado oil)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Aluminium foil

Step 1:

Firstly, you will need to separate and peel the garlic cloves. Cut off the tops of the garlic cloves, exposing the inside of the cloves. Place the garlic cloves on a piece of aluminium foil.

Step 2:

Drizzle olive oil over the exposed garlic cloves and season with salt and pepper. Wrap the aluminium foil around the garlic cloves, ensuring that the foil is wrapped tightly.

Step 3:

Preheat your air fryer to between 370°F and 400°F (185°C to 200°C). Place the foil-wrapped garlic into the air fryer basket or on the shelf. Roast the garlic for around 15 to 20 minutes, checking regularly to ensure the garlic does not burn.

Step 4:

Once the garlic is soft and golden brown, carefully remove the garlic from the air fryer using oven mitts or tongs. Allow the garlic to cool for around 10 minutes.

Step 5:

Unwrap the foil and gently squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins. Your roasted garlic is now ready to be used in your favourite recipes!

Tips:

• Ensure all garlic cloves are exposed before roasting, as this will help achieve even cooking and browning.
• You can roast multiple heads of garlic at once, as long as they fit in your air fryer without overcrowding the basket.
• Roasted garlic can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days, or frozen for up to 6 months.
• If you prefer, you can roast garlic cloves without the foil. Simply place the garlic cloves directly into the air fryer basket or on a small baking dish. However, this method may result in a messier clean-up as the oil may drip down.

How long to roast garlic cloves in an air fryer

Roasting garlic cloves in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to add extra flavour to your dishes. The time it takes to roast garlic cloves in an air fryer depends on whether you are roasting a whole bulb or individual cloves.

Roasting a Whole Bulb of Garlic

To roast a whole bulb of garlic in an air fryer, first, cut off the top of the bulb to expose the cloves. Place the bulb on a square of aluminium foil and drizzle with olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, if desired, then wrap the bulb tightly in the foil. Place the foil-wrapped bulb in the air fryer basket and roast at between 370°F and 400°F (185°C and 198°C) for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and golden brown.

Roasting Individual Garlic Cloves

To roast individual garlic cloves, separate the cloves from the bulb and place them on a square of aluminium foil. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Wrap the cloves tightly in the foil and place in the air fryer basket. Roast at 370°F (185°C) for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and golden brown.

Tips

• When roasting a whole bulb of garlic, ensure that all the cloves are exposed; this will help them to caramelise evenly.
• If you don't have aluminium foil, you can roast garlic in a small baking dish or ramekin. Simply place the garlic in the dish, cut side down, and cover the dish with foil or parchment paper.
• Roasted garlic can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days or frozen for up to 6 months.
• To freeze roasted garlic, place the cloves in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze overnight. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container.
• You can also store roasted garlic cloves in olive oil in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze them in ice cube trays for easy portioning.

How to store roasted garlic cloves

Roasted garlic cloves can be stored in a variety of ways, including in the refrigerator or freezer. Here is a detailed guide on how to store them:

Refrigerator Storage:

Place the cooled, peeled roasted garlic cloves into a clean glass jar or airtight container. Cover the cloves completely with extra virgin olive oil, which acts as a natural preservative by preventing air from reaching the garlic. Secure the jar or container with a tight lid and store it in the refrigerator. The roasted garlic will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks when stored this way.

Freezer Storage:

There are two main methods for freezing roasted garlic cloves:

• Arrange the peeled, cooled garlic cloves on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze for about an hour. Once frozen, transfer the cloves to a freezer-safe container or bag. This method allows you to take out as many cloves as needed without thawing the entire batch.
• For ready-to-use portions, place specific amounts of garlic cloves in an ice cube tray and cover them with extra virgin olive oil. Wrap the tray tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the freezer. When needed, simply pop out the desired number of garlic cubes and allow them to thaw at room temperature.

Regardless of the storage method, roasted garlic cloves will generally maintain their quality for about 2 to 3 months in the freezer.

Important Safety Tip:

Do not store roasted garlic cloves covered in olive oil at room temperature. This creates an environment conducive to the production of botulism toxin. Always keep them refrigerated or frozen to prevent any health risks.

How to freeze roasted garlic cloves

Yes, you can roast garlic cloves in an air fryer. To freeze roasted garlic cloves, you can follow these steps:

Firstly, it is important to note that roasted garlic cloves can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. However, for optimal flavour, it is recommended to use them within 3-4 months. The texture of the frozen garlic cloves will change and become more spongy, but this can help reduce cooking time.

To freeze roasted garlic cloves, you can use an ice cube tray. Place the desired amount of roasted garlic cloves in an ice cube tray and cover them with extra virgin olive oil. Ensure that the cloves are completely submerged in the oil. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer. Once the garlic cloves are frozen, you can transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.

Alternatively, you can place the roasted garlic cloves in an airtight container, glass jar, or freezer bag and cover them with extra virgin olive oil. Again, ensure that the cloves are completely submerged in the oil. Seal the container tightly and store it in the freezer.

When you are ready to use the frozen roasted garlic cloves, simply thaw them at room temperature and add them to your recipes.

What to use roasted garlic cloves in

Roasted garlic cloves have a sweet, nutty, buttery and rich flavour, and can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas for what to use your roasted garlic cloves in:

Spreads

Roasted garlic is a great spread on its own, but you can also blend it into a dip, like hummus, or mix it with cheese and spread it on bread or crackers.

Breads

As well as being a great spread, roasted garlic can be added to the dough of homemade breads, or used as a topping for garlic bread or cheese bread.

Salads

Roasted garlic can be used as a salad topping, especially for salads with meat, like steak salad, or keto chicken salad.

Eggs

Try adding roasted garlic to soft-scrambled eggs, or microwave eggs.

Meats

Roasted garlic is a great addition to slow-cooked meats, like beef cheeks, or as a hamburger topping.

Pasta

Blend roasted garlic into creamy pasta sauces, or add it to the dough of homemade pasta.

Soups

Roasted garlic can be blended into creamy soups, or added to cabbage soup, carrot soup, or cauliflower soup.

Vegetables

Use roasted garlic as a topping for mashed cauliflower, mashed potatoes, or any cooked vegetables, like roasted radishes, steamed broccoli, or roasted asparagus.

Pizza

Add whole roasted garlic cloves as a pizza topping, or blend them into the dough.

Stir-fries

Roasted garlic is a great addition to stir-fry recipes, like garlic butter chicken stir-fry.

Frequently asked questions